quail

²quail

verb

Definition of QUAIL

intransitive verb

1

a chiefly dialect : wither, decline b : to give way : falter <his courage never quailed>

2

: to recoil in dread or terror : cower <the strongest quail before financial ruin — Samuel Butler †1902>

transitive verb

archaic : to make fearful

Examples of QUAIL

1. Other politicians quailed before him.
2. He quailed at the thought of seeing her again.

Origin of QUAIL

Middle English, from Middle Dutch quelen

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to QUAIL

Synonyms: blench, cringe, flinch, recoil, shrink, squinch, wince

Related Words: blanch, pale, whiten; quake, quiver, shake, shudder, tremble; crouch; jerk, start, twitch; recede, retire, retreat, withdraw; falter, hesitate, reel, waver

Near Antonyms: advance, approach, near; beard, challenge, confront, defy, face

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at recoil